Open web frame



April 14, 1959l c. ERICKSON v oPEN WEB FRAME Filed Feb. 27. 195e ESI Ii'u n u nn 1i n l1 n'u u u u n u uw n u un n u n u @i n 11 um! ,Huf/ff 6dr/ Erickson v v INVENTOR.

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United States Patent .O F

h t l 2,881,878

' OPEN WEB FRAME cnn Erickson, Lincoln, Nenn Application February 27, 1956, Serial No. 567,788 jf; y, y' 'z claims. (ci. 18s-31) v This invention relates to a structure and framing device capable of a variety of uses.

An object of the invention is to provide a versatile structural frame, which by its specific design, will provide a positive frame in many types of small buildings such as houses and commercial enclosures, the frame being characterized by large support strength for its weight of material.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is an elevational view of one of the frames which exemplifies the invention, this frame being arranged as a structural support for a building;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modification in the application of the frame of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 5--5 of Figure 4.

In the accompanying drawing there is illustrated a footing for a building together with a oor slab 20 that has anchors 22 embedded in it. Masonry wall 24 is on the footing 10, the wall being shown in phantom and typifying any type of wall construction. Roof panels 26 are also schematically illustrated in order to explain one use for the structural and frame device 30.

Frame or framing device 30 consists of an upper chord member 32 that is made of a structural member having a T-section or some other type of structural member. For example, the upper chord member 32 may be made of two angles welded together in order to form a member having a section similar to a T-scction member. Alternatively other types of structural members may be used, for example an I-beam may be selected. A support 34 is secured at one end to the upper chord member 32 by a standard technique, as welding or riveting. The lower chord member 36 is xed at one end to an end of the upper chord 32 and to the tie plate 38 at that location. The opposite end of the lower chord member is secured to the foot ange 40 at the lower end of support 34. The intermediate portion of the lower chord member 38 is curved in an are 42 of a selected radius depending on the dimensions of the device.

Webbing 44 is located in between the upper and lower chord members and tacked thereto as by welding. A lattice type webbing is desired with the end strut 46 thereof secured at the junction of the upper chord member 32 and support 34. An additional webbing 48 is secured between the support 34 and the lower chord member 36, webbing 48 having a strut 50 which parallels strut 46 and which is also fixed at the junction of the upper chord member 32 and the support 34.

. spaced from the junction of these two members.

2,881,818 Patented Apr. 14, 1959 ice Two braces 52 and 54 are secured at their ends to the upper chord member 32 and to the support 3-4 at locations It is preferred that the braces 52 and 54 be made of bars and be arranged as a right angle with a central portion 56 of brace 52 welded along with the central portion of brace 54 to the lower chord member on the arc 42 thereof.

In the application of the structural and framing device shown in Figure l there is an upper, angular plate 62 that extends from framing device to framing device, being fixed to each at the junctions of the upper chord membersA and supports of each. Plate 62 may have a surface coincident with the top surface of the upper chord member as shown in Figure 1 or may rise vertically therefrom. This latter condition exists in Figures 4 and 5 wherein the plate 64 has an upper surface 66 and a vertical surface 68, the upper member having surface 66 functioning to support a roof 70 while the member having the surface 68 is welded or otherwise fixed to the support 34a.

Means rigidifying the frame at the corner are attached to each. These means consist of an approximately V shaped bar 78 that is passed between the two braces 52 and 54 and the struts 46 and 50 at their point of tangency near braces 52 and 54. The ends of the support brace 78 are mounted in brackets 80 and 82 which are welded or otherwise xed to the plate 64. Similar brackets on plate 62 are used to mount the ends of brace 78a for the structural and framing device 30.

The lower end of the structural and framing device is anchored as at 86 in the footing 10 in a manner accepted to be proper in the profession. Anchors 22 are attached to foot plates 40 for the frames 30 and 30a by having the hooked ends 88 passed through apertures therein.

As shown in Figure l the frame 30 may butt against a similar frame 30 in order to form a roof truss. In addition the upper chord may be extended as at 90 in order to provide for a roof overhang.

In use the structural and framing device is attached to the footing 10 and constitutes a part of the framing of a building. The stype or nature of the building is immaterial to the structure of the frame device 30 or 30'. Minor alterations in application such as shown in Acomparison of Figures l and 4 are necessary depending on the type of installation. The structural and framing devices described may be manufactured quickly and with a minimum of materials, whereby they are easily assembled on the job.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A structural and framing device comprising an upper chord member that has ends, a support having an end fixed to one of said ends of said upper chord member, said support adapted to be anchored at its opposite end, a lower chord member which includes a pair of bars in side-by-side relationship, said lower chord member having an arc in the region of the junction of said upper chord member and said support the lower end of said lower chord member secured to the lower end of said support, the opposite end of both bars of said lower chord member secured to the free end of said upper chord member, a continuous strut fixed to said upper chord member and a part of said lower chord member, said continuous strut having spaced portions which are located between the bars of said lower chord member and fixed thereto, another fixed strut disposed between said support and the remaining part of said lower chord member and secured to both said support and said lower chord member, said last mentioned xed strut having parts which are located between the bars of said lower chord member and attached in place, said rst and second mentioned struts having an opening at said arc and in the region of the junction between said struts and said lower chord member, and a brace passed through said opening and secured at its ends to an external support.

2. The structural and frame device of claim 1 wherein said upper chord member and said support each have anges, and a second brace secured to the anges of said upper chord member and said support and also to vsaid i first brace adjacent to the part of the rst brace which passes through said opening.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

